Pilot safety award of distinction - Monthly Award Winners - Captain Schluter - Brief Article

Capt Schluter was flying an F-16C as #1 of a 2-ship Basic Surface Attack (BSA) sortie in the North UTTR. While orbiting over a target area at 11,000 feet MSL and 300 KIAS, Capt Schluter felt a thud followed by a persistent vibration. Recognizing a potentially serious engine malfunction, he pointed towards Wendover Airport, the nearest divert field.

Capt Schluter tested the throttle response and found the engine indications to be normal at all power settings, but the vibrations worsened as the throttle approached idle. The only other indication was an "ENG 020" fault on the aircraft's maintenance fault list. Noting the severity of the engine vibrations, Capt Schluter immediately began to climb to reach a 1-to- 1 glide ratio to Wendover Airport. Once the glide ratio was achieved, he set up for a Simulated Flameout (SFO) approach to the 8,000 foot runway. Capt Schluter recognized that landing speed and distance would be critical, given his relatively heavy gross weight, along with the runway length and lack of a rrestment capability at Wendover. Overcoming these potential problems, Capt Schluter flew a flawless SFO and successfully stopped the aircraft on the runway. Post-flight maintenance revealed that a mechanical failure had produced significant damage to the turbine section of the engine. Had it not been for Capt Schluter's quick diagnosis and skillful performance, it is likely that this damage would have led to catastrophic failure of the engine. Capt Schluter's flawless analysis under pressure, timely decision making, and superior flying skill ultimately prevented the loss of a $28 million combat asset and potential loss of life.